Langley go clear at the top

Kings Langley moved three points clear at the top of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division with a 4-2 win over Hillingdon Borough on Saturday.

With rivals Berkhamsted and Sun Sports not playing, Langley took full advantage with a comfortable win, with two late Borough goals making the match look closer than it was.

Gaywood Park was one of the few local venues to be passed match fit after a heavy overnight frost and freezing temperatures. Langley initially made light of the conditions and intelligent football reaped an early reward when Nick Jackson’s low cross eluded Mitchell Weiss and his marker, but not the incoming Tom Carter, who finished with assurance from close range.

Borough fought back and had Charlie Crowley scrambling as his defence cleared off the line, but Weiss used power, speed and anticipation to seize on a loose ball and finish his surging run with a shot that gave Gary Wells no chance and made it 2-0.

The frozen few sought refuge in the clubhouse before the resumption brought a moment that would grace any match at the highest level.

Mitchell Weiss took a forward pass at chest level, turned and hit a stunning volley in one movement that brought a stupendous save from Wells.

Unfortunately for the keeper, he could probably have dealt better with a low Alex Campana free kick from just outside the box minutes later, only helping the ball into the corner of the net and when Nick Jackson timed his run to perfection to beat the offside trap and slot the ball past Wells, a latterly familiar result seemed to have been achieved.

But there was to be a twist that warmed the hearts of the away fans and jolted any complacency their rivals may have been feeling.

When Francisco Caro produced a curling shot from 20 yards that Charlie Crowley got a hand to, but could not stop, it seemed no more than a consolation. But Karl Stevenson’s similar effort saw Crowley, under no pressure, fist the ball into the net rather than over the bar and the complexion had changed.

The keeper atoned with two superb saves and Jack Pattison cleared off the line as Boro forced a series of corners in the closing minutes, but Kings rode the storm.

Langley were due to travel to Hoddesdon last night (Tues), before hosting Tring Athletic on Saturday (ko 3pm)